Recce Pod, 601GP(1), DJRP
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Recce Pod, 601GP(1), DJRP |
| In its designated
role as a high speed low altitude daylight reconnaissance platform,
the Jaguar GR.1A was fitted with a dedicated reconnaissance pod
manufactured by BAC, on its
centreline stores station. The pod contained one forward looking F.95 Mk.7 camera, behind this there were installed four synchronised F.95 Mk.10 cameras mounted in a fan configuration. This provided horizon across-track coverage and also fitted was a British Aerospace Dynamics 401 infra-red linescan sensor. The F.95 cameras were located in a pair of rotating drums within the pod, these rotating to expose the camera ports during operations. The forward looking and two inner fan cameras were position in the forward drum whilst the aft drum contained the two outer fan cameras. The infra-red linescan sensor was located in the rear of the pod. Both the F.95 Mk.7 and 10 were fitted with image movement compensation (IMC) and automatic exposure control (AEC). The infra-red linescan sensor provided across track angular coverage of 120°. The sensor worked in the vertical mode or could have been offset 30° to port or starboard. An alternative fit for medium high day reconnaissance was also available. This fit comprised of role change module which replaced the two outer fan F.95s within the aft camera drum. The module contains an AGI Type F.126 240mm camera mounted in the vertical mode and was also fitted with both IMC and AEC. The two inner F.95 cameras and the IRLS were retained as a integral part of the medium altitude fit, however, owing to the small scale of the resulting imagery from these cameras |
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 Gulf War 1 Jaguar with reconnaissance Pod - Click to Enlarge |
 Early Jaguar reconnaissance Pod Diagram - Click to Enlarge |
| limited
their intelligence valve and were mainly used as a tracking aid.
The forward facing F.95 was not used when the medium altitude fit
was being used.
Two RAF Squadrons that used this pod, II(AC) Sqn based in RAF
Germany and 41(F) Sqn based in the UK. Later this pod was replaced with a LOROP pod, also known as the Lightweight Pod this contained a single 36in focal length Vinten Type 690 (F.144) tactical stand off camera, it had a limited field of view of only 7°. The pod was fitted with a movable nose cone , this enabled the pilot to select the optimum stand off distance and depression angle from the air. This was later replaced with the VICON 18 Series 601 GP(1) pod, again fitted with the F.144 camera fitted with an 18in focal length Leitz lens with a 14in field of view and with a 5in film format. Like the LOROP pod the camera can be rotated through various angles of depression and could also operate in the vertical mode. In 1994 the camera was fitted with a 450mm (17.7in) Matra lens. Also fitted in the pod was a Vinten Type 900B (F.152) Panoramic camera, this was fitted with a 3in lens and imagery was recorded on 70mm film. The pod was also know as the Jaguar Reconnaissance Pod (JRP) and then the Joint Reconnaissance Pod, once it started to be fitted on other RAF aircraft. Jaguars operated the JRP in the low-level reconnaissance role. Again the reconnaissance pod was updated, the "wet film" cameras were removed and replaced with a digital imaging system, designed by Thales Optronics UK. In the beginning it was know as the JRRP (The Jaguar Replacement Reconnaissance Pod), however, after entering service in the 1990s it was renamed the Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod (DJRP). Equipped with a high resolution / wide angle sensors, these being the 8042 electro-optical (EO) sensor and a Super Vigil Infra Red (IR) sensor. During missions these sensors fed digital data to two on-board storage recording modules. The EO sensor was designed to provide a wide area coverage, being able to record at both long and short range, thus giving the aircraft a great "stand-off" capability. The IR sensor worked by recording horizon to horizon image based on the flight path of the aircraft. It was planned for the recorded data within the modules to be to be transmitted via a datalink to a ground station. However; it is unsure if this was ever used. Standard practice was to download the data from the modules after flight. During its life in RAF service, DJRP was also fitted to the both the RAF's Harrier and Tornado fleet of aircraft. The pod also being exported to the South African Air Force (SAAF) to be fitted on their Gripen aircraft, flight trials were due to start in late 2010. |
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